wednesdays with charlie

i have a new summer schedule that includes wednesdays home with my charlie. i feel so lucky to get to spend more time with her. if i had my way it would be more days with her then work, but alas...

so since i am always taking photos of her anyway, i decided to share our wednesday adventures together here. i am constantly looking for new ways to see things and searching for the perfect light...what better way than with a two year old? (:


today the laundry proved very entertaining.
















someone stops over for a visit. who could it be?...


cousin owen!


peek-a-boo owen.

wedding at maple hill farm, auburn

kim & garrett had an amazing wedding that was not only simply beautiful, but also had these sweet elements that you don't often see at weddings anymore. like garrett wore a top hat and morning jacket. it was fab. they also had a horse drawn carriage take them from the church on a nice long walk around a lake and over to the reception at the groom's family farm.

there was an amazing farm house, draft horses, rescue horses, dogs, and some baby chicks inside the back door that i stumbled upon. all of this against a beautiful landscape. the bridesmaids and groomsmen played wiffle ball with the kids on the lawn and everyone just enjoyed each others company whether chatting on the lawn or tearing up the dance floor. it was a truly lovely occasion. and of course, kimberly was stunning.























this shot took some time as the horse decided that her dress was a bit intimidating.





i couldn't resist including this shot. there were many animals that were part of the day and i am a sucker for all animals. (:





the view across the street from the farm.

beautiful girl

my motivation for shooting women's bodies is not simply about making them "look sexy"(don't get me wrong i think that looking sexy has it's place too!), but more about giving them confidence to see themselves as beautiful no matter what age, shape or size. often i shoot with girls who are size 8-14 not 0-4. i love that. most often the women that have come to me are not ones that would normally choose to do this type of shoot and are surprised that they are brave enough to be doing it!

our society sends a lot of messages about beauty. i will not spend the time here to go on the rant that i could, if you live in america and are a woman then you already know all about these issues and how hard it is to fight them. i am an average size girl myself and have fought my whole life to be happy with my body. most girls do the same.

when i became a photographer my passion was really about showing everyone that they were beautiful. everyone. this is simply an extension of that.

and by the way, one of the best parts of these shoots that i have discovered is that when the photos are for the significant other in your life they ALWAYS LOVE them! they think you are gorgeous, i promise. (: